Archive for March 13th, 2022

A Time for Transformation

March 13, 2022

2nd Sunday of Lent
By Fr. Chinnappan Pelavendran

As we now enter the Second Week of Lent, our task is to continue to examine our hearts and change ourselves to be worthy of the Lord’s glorious paschal mystery. As human beings, we do not like change and we resist any change as much as we can. However, change is a part of our life, and we cannot just depend on our past glory and achievements. We know that we are pilgrims on a journey to a more permanent dwelling place, a place of total union with our God of Truth and Love. The readings for today invite us to reflect on the paradox of our Christian faith that we belong here but at the same time, we do not belong here. It is in this world that we are to find a home with God in the world to come.

Today’s first reading describes Abraham’s journey of faith. He had been asked to leave his homeland and to go and live in a strange place if he did so, he was promised a great future for his family and descendants. Without any further guarantees, Abram sets out. His readiness to put his trust in God’s word was rewarded by becoming our father in faith. At this time Abraham had no children and expresses his desire to the Lord. God had assured him of a great dynasty as numerous as the stars of heaven. He shows it to Abraham through a covenant. From this experience, Abraham knew his trust in God was justified.

In the second reading taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, we heard St. Paul tell the new Christians that our citizenship is in Heaven, that is, the goal and destination of our lives are to be one with God. St. Paul explains to them the Lord Jesus Christ and how the Lord will transfigure our wretched bodies into copies of His glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe. At the same time, we do not belong to this world because Christ died for us so that we may be made righteous through Him. Through His death on the Cross as the sacrificial Lamb, we inherit the salvation that awaits all those who persevere in their living faith. Jesus will come to save us and will transform our lowly bodies to be like his own glorious body.

In today’s Gospel, we see the blessing for Peter and James and John to witness Jesus transfigured. They got a preview of the glory of Jesus risen from the dead. It was also a preview of the glory we all hope to share in heaven. This was a very special grace for Peter and James and John. Through the Mystery of his Transfiguration in the presence of Moses and Elijah, Jesus wanted to show his apostles, ahead of time, the glory of his Resurrection. Having had this experience they would keep these words to undergo the trial of the Cross and the Passion of their Master. We, too, can receive within us the risen Jesus to carry our daily cross. Jesus was accompanied by Moses and Elijah; two pillars of the Old Testament, representing the Law and the Prophets.

The Transfiguration mystery of Jesus defies all explanations. It is an encounter with the divine that is briefly experienced in the context of prayer. The Transfiguration of Jesus that the disciples witnessed was not simply something they were to see and experience only to the Lord Jesus to him alone. It was also an invitation for them to undergo a transformation of their own. By listening to Jesus, listening to all that he invites us to be and to do, It means especially listening to those words of Jesus; It means having total trust in walking in His Way; it means a total trust that only His Way brings us into full union with God, the source of all Truth, Love, Happiness, and Peace.

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His Glorious Light Overcomes the Darkness

March 13, 2022

2nd Sunday of Lent
Fr. Victor Feltes

Once upon a time, little Billy’s grade school teacher was teaching her class about outer space. She said, “In 1969, the American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon.” Little Billy raised his hand and asked, “Teacher, has anyone ever walked on the Sun?” “Oh, no,” she said, “the Sun is far too hot for that.” But Billy replied with confidence, “I know how I can be the first.” Curious and bemused, she asked him how. “Easy. I’ll go at night!”

The Sun, of course, does not turn off at night like a lamp on a switch. The Sun still blazes and shines with incredible heat and light even when the Earth obscures it from our sight. And even on the darkest, stormiest day the Sun remains in the heavens above us even though clouds prevent us from perceiving it clearly.

In this Sunday’s first reading from Genesis, Abram (before God changed his name to Abraham) seems discouraged. He’s lamenting to the Lord: “Look, you have given me no offspring.” Though God has promised him descendants, he and his wife have become very old without having any children together. The Lord God guides him outside and says, “Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, shall your descendants be.” We can easily picture this as a nighttime scene: Abram exits his dwelling and sees a billion stars in the Milky Way. Indeed, more than that number of people today recognize him as our spiritual ancestor, “our Father in Faith.” But this episode strikes as even more profound if, instead of during nighttime, it happened during the day.

‘Look up at the blue sky and count the stars, if you can. Just so, shall your descendants be. You know the stars are up there, Abram. You know they don’t stop being real each morning, it’s just that you can’t see them. Your many descendants will exist, though you cannot see them now, though you do not yet know how. I assure, you my promises to you will be kept.’ And “Abram put his faith in the Lord, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.”

Then God reaffirms his promises to Abram in a strange and mysterious way. The Lord directs him to sacrifice five animals. Abram slays them and lays them out, and then.. nothing happens. Birds of prey, scavengers, swoop down upon the carcasses to pick them over. Yet Abram does not give up; he patiently remains there. As the sun is about to set, a deep, terrifying darkness envelops Abram. And when the sun has set and it is dark, Abram sees a flaming torch and a smoking fire pot appear and pass between the sacrifices. This is a sign from God against any discouragement, doubt, and fear; it is the Lord’s light overcoming the darkness.

Christ’s Church pairs this reading from Genesis today with Jesus’ Transfiguration. After telling the disciples of his coming death, Jesus manifests to them his glory; a divine glory which is always present but which they cannot always see. This event seems to take place in the dark of night since Peter, John, and James were overcome by sleep while Jesus prayed. But upon becoming fully awake, their eyes are opened: they see Jesus’ face shining like the sun and his clothing now dazzling white, as he speaks with Moses and Elijah. These two, great prophets after their trials share in Christ’s radiant glory and speak of the exodus he will accomplish in Jerusalem (that is, they speak of his approaching paschal sacrifice which will set God’s people free).

In his Transfiguration, Jesus reveals his glory to the disciples to strengthen them for the scandal of the Cross. He wants to prepare them to accept, even by the testimony of the law and the prophets, that the Passion leads to the glory of the Resurrection. Christ’s glory shines forth from a body like our own, to show that we, his Church, the body of Christ, can likewise share his glory.

The stories of little Billy, Father Abraham, and Christ’s Transfiguration teach important truths believers will be blessed to remember and hold on to. Even more so than the Sun or stars, our good God endures unchanging. Though this world obscures the light of heaven, heaven’s light remains undimmed. Birds of prey may swoop down and impiously scavenge as enemies of Christ, but we are not forgotten. The innocent one may suffer like Christ, but he is not abandoned. Our times may be dark and frightening, but we need not be afraid: God’s promises will be kept. This is our faith: that despite doubt, discouragement, and distress, the glory of our Lord will overcome the darkness.

Posted in Abraham, Chrisitian Virtues, Faith, Homily, Patience, Sunday Homilies, Transfiguration, Trust | 1 Comment »